Bangkok post, January 21, 1998: GAS

[suriya@xxxxxxxxxxxx]

January 21, 1998
 GAS PIPELINE

              Supporters
              threaten sit-in
              protesters

              Spectre of mob law raises its head

              Chakrit Ridmontri 
              Kanchanaburi

              Advocates of the gas pipeline project have threatened to take
              action against conservation groups which are staging a sit-in
              protest to prevent the Petroleum Authority of Thailand (PTT)
              from laying the pipeline in the forest.

              The pipeline's supporters announced at a press meeting in
              Kanchanaburi yesterday that if the government failed to take
              action against the groups, they would do it themselves.

              "As the majority of the Kanchanaburi people, we cannot allow
              protesters to obstruct the laying of the pipeline and to distort
              information about the project. We will do something to stop
              protesting activities if the government remains idle," said
              Warawuth Phongwitthiyaphanu, chairman of Kanchanaburi's
              chamber of commerce.

              Mr Warawuth said the advocates won support from hundreds of
              thousands of people in Kanchanaburi who will gather at the
              governor's hall this Friday to express concern about the project.
              They will collect signatures and pass them on to Prime Minister
              Chuan Leekpai.

              The press conference was organised by staunch supporters of
              the project based in Kanchanaburi, such as the chamber of
              commerce, the local Federation of Thai Industries, the press
              club, the tourist business association, the farmers' committee and
              the association of kamnan and village chiefs.

              Farmers' committee chairman Prasong Phew-oon-dee said the
              advocates would lead hundreds of thousands of people to join
              the counter-protest, as each organisation has a number of
              members. The advocates are owners of agricultural and industrial
              corporations which have a number of employees.

              The pipeline supporters are convinced that the protesters are a
              minority and have an ulterior motive. If the PTT cannot finish
              laying the pipeline by July 1, which is the gas delivery date, a
              number of businesses will also be stalled.

              Sunpetch Salisatakorn, deputy chairman of Kanchanaburi's
              Federation of Thai Industries, said the federation in collaboration
              with the chamber of commerce planned to make use of gas from
              the pipeline for industry in the province.

              "The industry will expand along the pipeline route because they
              can use gas which will be provided through a dozen valves. As a
              consequence, petrochemical and other industries which rely
              heavily on energy will be relocated to this area," he said.

              But the conservation groups did not share the vision, saying the
              industrial expansion meant that the vast area of lush forest in the
              province would be devastated. 

              Pibhop Dhongchai, coordinator of the groups, said any action to
              be taken against the group's members who are camping in the
              forests would violate their constitutional right to conduct a
              peaceful protest and conserve natural resources.

              "If the confrontation does occur, premier Chuan has to be
              responsible for any violence emerging from the counter-action of
              advocates' groups. The supporters of the gas pipeline especially
              kamnan and village chiefs would dare not confront the groups if
              they are not backed by Kanchanaburi governor," he said.

              The groups called on Mr Chuan to halt the project temporarily
              and set up committees to review the project in terms of the
              environmental and economic impact.

              The premier has yet to respond to the call despite legal experts
              concluding that the PTT could delay the project without being
              penalised by the pipeline's construction contractor and the gas
              seller.

              The PTT signed a gas deal contract to buy gas from Burma's
              Yadana and Yetagun fields five years ago. It is responsible for
              building the 260 pipeline to receive gas from the connection point
              at the border of Thailand and Burma in I-tong village toward a
              gas power plant in Ratchaburi.

              The gas delivery date is set at July 1. It claimed that if the PTT
              fails to receive gas on time, it would be liable for a daily fine of
              40 million baht to the gas selling consortium comprising oil firm
              Unocal of USA, Total of France, PTTEP Ltd or an affiliate of
              the PTT and the Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise.




                                     




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